//------------------------------//
// 17. Don't Dilly-Dally 
// Story: The Rock Farmer's Daughters 
// by Sketcha-Holic 
//------------------------------//

After a couple days of rain, the folks at Nickerlite welcomed the sunshine. Though the streets were muddy, they were at least hard enough for carts to be pulled through. Ponies were out smelling the scent of fresh rainwater, chatting up a storm, and much to the chagrin of every mother, foals were having a blast playing with the mud, from building mud castles to throwing mud balls. There was even one creating a mud angel.

This was the scene Cheese and Pinkamena happened upon on their way to the post office. Their mud-covered hooves carried them past those who stopped in their tracks upon seeing them. They could hear whispers, and the swishing sound of hushed voices was very grating to Pinkamena's ears. They were just there to retrieve letters, which she was sure were just about business with the rocks.

It was unfortunate that all three of her sisters had come down with colds; otherwise Pinkamena would have Maud by her side. Cloudy was tending the sick Pies, and had asked her to retrieve mail from the post office. And argued as she might, Pinkamena was forced to go with the hired hoof, with a saddlebag in tow and the emphasized phrase of "don't dilly-dally," having been told to them as they left.

While he was hardly the fortress that Maud was, at least Cheese was providing her with company. Company usually lessened the chances of somepony bothering her, especially a certain annoying stallion that she was sure the gossipers had mentioned in their whispers. She figured the hushed voices were talking about Cheese infringing on "Cortland's mare", and how he was weak competition compared to the Apple. How many times would she have to repeat that there was nothing romantic going on between any of them? She grinded her teeth at the thought of Haralson failing to properly eradicate the stupid rumors, and was thinking of the older Apple stallion as a pushover.

Still, if there was anything that was true, it's that she was quite comfortable with Cheese. She had come to like how pleasant he was, and there was no denying the strange warmth she felt upon hearing him talk. A story of his could take her out of her troubles, as they were so genuinely entertaining she could pay attention for hours on end, and he always remained polite and receptive to feedback, though he was no stranger to banter.

No doubt about it, his presence was one that she liked; though she was afraid that admitting it would leave it open to misinterpretation. If only there wasn't that tightness that came sporadically at the corners of her mouth whenever he was around. It was irritating, and she couldn't think of any way to fix it.

Cheese was looking around, unnerved by the whispers of the townsfolk. "You sure do inspire a lot of talk, don't you?"

Pinkamena rolled her eyes. "Don't know why he's interested in me of all ponies."

Cheese grimaced and stared into space for a few moments. Then he shook his head, and tapped his chin with a muddy hoof. "Well… part of it may be the mystery surrounding you guys…"

"We farm rocks. There's nothing mysterious about that."

"They don't know that. For all I know, they might think you're an underground criminal organization." He took a swift glance at the townsponies, who now donned horrified expressions.

Pinkamena snorted and shouted, "He's kidding. We're just simple rock farmers, you boneheads."

"Hey…" Cheese crooned. "Be nice…"

"Kind of hard to be that way with a lie floating around. Anyway, I don't see why he is fixated on me out of the four Pie sisters."

"His… uh… favorite color's pink?" Cheese held a sheepish smile as he said this.

Pinkamena put a hoof on her face and shook her head. She continued to walk forward, and Cheese followed silently with an embarrassed flush on his face. As they passed the candy shop, he glanced at the saloon across the street, expecting Riffraff and his gang to waltz out.

Finally, they reached the post office, retrieved the mail, and then turned back around to head back. It was just set to be business as usual, even with suspicious townsponies and their fantasies of a messy love triangle. The trip was meant to be straight to the post office, and straight back to the farm, like Pinkamena's mother expected.

But the pink mare couldn't ignore her sweet tooth. When passing by the candy shop, she suddenly turned and slipped in, leaving a confused Cheese outside until she slipped back out, grabbed his poncho, and yanked him inside.

The stallion blinked in astonishment, before turning his head and raising an eyebrow. Pinkamena growled in response, "Don't tell anypony about this visit." She started to saunter up to the counter.

"Um, okay, but why are in here?"

"I crave something sweet."

"You do? I never really took anypony in the Pie family to like candy."

"News flash, I do. Now, if you desire, you may take your pick."

"Oooh…" Cheese scrambled to the shelves, his eyes filled with childlike wonder at the many different kinds of candy there was. He sat down and scratched his head, muttering, "How am I supposed to choose…?"

Pinkamena shook her head and went to the counter, noticing that Lemon Drop had fallen asleep, and that Sugar Glider hadn't made it to work. She knocked on the counter, and the yellow stallion awoke with a start.

"Are you having the baby?!" He blinked and looked around, and saw Pinkamena there. "Oh! Terribly sorry… I forgot I was here, and that Sugar was home sick… I-I know you're not having a foal… ehehe…"

Pinkamena raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. I've never been on any of those exploits."

"Er… right. So, what can I do ya for?" Lemon asked with twinkling eyes.

"I'm in the mood for some cherry licorice." She glanced at Cheese, who was still looking over the shelves. "Cheese… hasn't decided."

"Okey-dokey!" Lemon opened a jar, and carefully pulled out a couple strands of red licorice.

Pinkamena exchanged a couple of bits for them, and then quickly slurped them down. As she chewed on the candy, she muttered, "It's delicious as always, Lemon."

"Why, thank you, Miss Pie!" Lemon gave her a bright smile, and glanced at Cheese. "Have you decided yet, Mr. Sandwich?"

Cheese was still scanning the shelves. "Nope, not yet!"

Pinkamena groaned. "Do I have to pay for your treat, too?"

"No worries." Cheese reached inside his poncho, and pulled out his light bag of bits. "I'm sure I could waste a little bit of money on some candy, as long as it's under five bits."

"Plenty of our stock is under five bits," Lemon said. "Now hurry, I think Pinkamena's getting impatient."

Cheese rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry… there's just so much to choose from… I'll try and hurry." He turned back to the shelf and continued to browse.

Lemon chuckled and turned to Pinkamena. "So… how's he doing on the farm? Is he getting any stronger?"

Pinkamena blew some hair out of her face. "Well… I've noticed that carrying rocks is getting easier for him by the day. And he cheered when he finally smelled a difference between a ripe rock and an unripe one the other day."

"Ooh, progress."

"Yep. He's still skinny, but if you look closely you'll see he's building some muscle."

"Think he'll be uncomfortable if I get too close?"

"Yes." The bluntness in her voice was palpable, and Lemon gave her a look trying to inform her that he was only kidding. She took a deep breath and asked, "How's your wife?"

Lemon breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that the conversation had changed from that awkward turn. "She's doing all right. Admittedly, she's kind of cranky, and just wants our foal to come out already. She doesn't want to wait the last few weeks, yanno?"

"I imagine I'd be fed up with it after carrying a foal for that long. Eleven months is a long time."

That's when they heard a commotion outside. Her mind flashing to the day she met Cheese, Pinkamena wondered what was going on this time. Was it another poor pony being picked on by thugs? Was it just a fight? Was there an angry mob gathered around one of the stores? She glanced at Lemon Drop, who was staring at the door the same way he did before, and then she looked at Cheese, who was both confused and uncomfortable with the noise.

"You boys stay here. If it's who I think it is, I'll be able to break up the fight easily and return in a few moments." With that, she opened the door and marched out, shutting it with her tail.

Just as she predicted, it was that smelly stallion—who, according to Cheese and Marble, was named Riffraff—and his gang. And once again, they were picking on some hapless stallion, having thrown his top hat and saddlebags on the wayside. She glared at the scene in the most dull manner, annoyed that she was saving somepony a second time.

So, she stepped out into the street, put the tip of her hoof near her mouth, and gave the most shrill whistle, which made everypony on the street stop what they were doing and snap their heads toward the pink mare. The thugs turned as well, and with the most unstallionlike screams hightailed it out of there. Chuckles from the townsfolk filled the air as Pinkamena helped the poor pony up.

"Oh, thank you, Miss!" the muddy blue pony exclaimed, shaking her hoof enthusiastically. "Those thugs just jumped me without provocation, and I wasn't sure if anypony was going to help me."

"You're lucky I heard them. That's the second time I've saved somepony from them."

"Well, aren't you a noble pony?" The stallion chuckled, letting go of her hoof. "If there is any way I can repay you—"

"There's no need, sir. Just a simple 'thank you' is sufficient."

"Well, then, if that's how you feel." The pony picked up his stuff, tipped his hat, and began to trot away. "I wish you health and happiness, Miss!"

Pinkamena blinked, and nickered in contentment. As she turned to return to the candy store, she felt a foreleg wrap around her back and pull her to the side of a larger pony. She was surprised by the sudden embrace, but she was scowling before two seconds had passed.

"Don't you scare me like that, Pinkie! You coulda gotten hurt!" That arrogant drawl was grinding on her nerves as it always did, and it didn't help that he was too close for comfort.

Why couldn't she visit town without running into him? She noticed the townsponies staring, a pleased look upon most of their faces. With a groan, she wondered why in the hay they supported this nonexistent romance.

"Cortland," she began. "First off, those thugs know very well that I could literally crush their bodies if I wanted to. And second, you best let go of me right now!"

"Why? So you could be in more danger?"

Pinkamena pulled herself out of his hold, and noticed the townsponies surrounding them, watching them in anticipation. She also noticed that the blue pony with the top hat had returned, curiously watching the scene. Being stuck in the middle of the circle made her uncomfortable, and she glanced around, searching for a way out of the circle without having to knock a few heads. Annoying as they were, she wasn't about to hurt any of the townsponies.

"Cortland, this is ridiculous! I've told you time and time again that I'm not interested!"

"She's just in denial, Corty!" a random stallion shouted.

"Shut up!" Pinkamena stomped her hoof hard, splashing some mud onto her chest. "Look, I'm only in town on business, and I've got to get home quickly. If only Cheese would just hurry up and choose his treat…"

"Oh, the poor mare's foalsitting a hobo… those parents of hers must be so cruel…" somepony else cooed.

"That they are," Cortland agreed. "After all, Ah've never seen any of the Pie sisters smile… have any of you?"

The ponies in the crowd shook their heads, looking amongst each other and muttering some things to each other. As her ears picked up on some of the ideas that they had about what happened on the rock farm, Pinkamena could not believe what Cortland and the ponies surrounding them were suggesting was happening there. Hardly anypony visited, so what gave them the right to assume what her home life was like?

Cortland looked at the confused blue pony and pointed at him. "That pony there wished ya health and happiness, Pinkamena. If you'd just run away with me, Ah could gave you the happiness you deserve."

The pony was a little taken aback by the statement. "Excuse me, if I may object—"

"Object ta true love? Y'all hear that? That pony is mighty bonkers to be retractin' his statement!"

The stranger snorted. "There is no 'true love' here to object to. You're harassing her."

Pinkamena was grateful that this stranger was on her side. He could see the sham that this "romance" was, and the blunt statement of what was really going on brought on a nod of agreement from her. He hadn't even been here for the past months to know the whole extent of it.

"Pssh," Cortland said. "Ya don't even know what harassment is! Ah'm just suggesting that Ah take her away from those abusive parents of hers."

"Abusive?" Pinkamena growled. "Look, Cortland, my parents are not abusive! They love me very much!"

Cortland turned back to her. "Oh, poor, confused Pinkie… don't ya see the signs? Yer father's possessive of you, yer hardly ever in town, and you are always unhappy. Wouldn't ya rather have a blissful life out of that rock farm with a lovin' husband?"

"If that's your way of proposing, then the answer is NO. Now, I have to leave—Ma's probably wondering what's taking me and Cheese so long."

She started to shove ponies aside on her way to the candy shop, ready to give a tongue-lashing to Cheese for taking a long time to choose. However, she suddenly found Cortland standing in her way, a look of disapproval on his face. She attempted to step around him, but he moved in her way, still staring at her.

"You and Cheese?" he snarled. "What's so special about him?"

"He's the hired hoof, that's all. He's just being indecisive about what candy he wants."

"Won't yer parents be peeved that ya keep visiting the candy shop? Aren't ya afraid they'll beat you senseless if they learn 'bout these trips?"

"We only beat Diamond Dogs senseless, now move it before I buck you in the face!"

"Come on… why are ya so grouchy all the time? Did they beat all the happiness out of ya?" He stepped forward, and Pinkamena stepped back, with a sharp glare toward him. He was still gazing at her when he crooned, "Come on, Pinkamena, smile… smile… smile."

The way he had said that seemed rather suspicious. "…huh?"

"Yeah!" a mare piped up. "Fill his heart up with sunshine! Sunshine!"

"All he really needs is a smile, smile, smile!" a stallion shouted, bouncing up and down. "From that lovely mare of his!"

Those seemed suspicious as well. She knew that those words had no need to be repeated for emphasis. There was something going on, and she didn't like it. She was growing unnerved when the townsponies started chanting:

"Come on, Pinkamena, smile, smile, smile!

Fill his heart up with sunshine, sunshine!

All Cortland needs is a smile, smile, smile!

From that lovely mare of his!"

The blue stranger was shouting at the crowd in resistance, pleading with them to just let her retrieve her friend and go home. Unfortunately, his cries were drowned out by the chanting, and Pinkamena had the word "smile" hammered onto her mercilessly, which for reasons she wouldn't say aloud, was scaring her.

She tugged at her mane, murmuring to herself, "Come on, Pinkamena… you know what Granny Pie said… 'you gotta stand up tall…'"

The chanting continued, unrelenting from the torture that it was giving her. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing that the expectant faces were just going to mock her.

"'…learn to face your fears…'"

Why was she afraid? What was stopping her from just getting up, smacking Cortland, and then dragging Cheese out of the shop so they could get back to the rock farm? What was it about the chanting that was leaving her so vulnerable?

"'You'll see that they can't hurt you… just laugh to make them disappear.' Ha… ha… ha?"

She knew it was a feeble attempt at a laugh. She hadn't done so in such a long time, she was wondering if her laugh was awful. The chanting was drowning out any word of resistance, either from her or the blue pony who was trying to stop them. She just wanted to bury her head in the mud to get away from the chants, which continued the undertones of mocking her.

And then it hit her. She was hearing the song that was always stuck in her head. But instead of birds sweetly singing the tune, it was the townsponies chanting it with the expectation that she'd give in and please Cortland.

She felt herself being lifted up, and something was being pressed to her mouth. Her eyes shot open, and once she realized what was happening, she pulled herself away from the Apple stallion, and with no regard to what anypony would say, smacked him across the face, sending him to the mud. She heard a collective gasp from the other ponies, and stared at the ugly bruise which was forming on Cortland's cheek.

He was still breathing, but Pinkamena counted him lucky that she didn't snap his neck with that. Still, there was a notable lack of satisfaction, and she was trembling. She expected the ponies to resume the chanting, but all she could see was their horrified gazes.

Even the blue pony gaped, muttering, "My word…"

At a loss of how to reply, she backed up, still carrying leftover fear from the chanting earlier. She knew they were surprised to see her like this, and most likely angry with her for her fierce hit of Cortland. Her brain all muddled up, she turned and bolted.

Where she was headed, they did not know.





Once Cheese had heard the disturbing chanting outside, he was both curious and afraid. Part of him wanted to step outside and see what was going on, but another part of him wanted to stay in and avoid whatever was going on. But he remembered that Pinkamena was out there, and was possibly being delayed by it. He had stood there at the counter—finally having decided on a bag of gumballs, paid for it, and put it in the pocket in his poncho—for what seemed like a long time, staring at the door before deciding on stepping outside and checking it out.

As he reached the door, he hesitated. The chanting had stopped, and while he figured that Pinkamena had stopped whatever commotion had happened, he could still feel a sense of dread. He was sure that she would be very annoyed when he came out, both by the commotion and the fact that he took too long to decide. Still, what was it?

Lemon Drop had come from behind the counter, and with an encouraging nudge and a smile, walked with him out the door. They blinked at what they saw.

There were the townsponies, gathered in front of the candy shop, a couple of them helping up a groggy Cortland with a bruise on his face. And there was no Pinkamena in sight.

It would have been easy to assume that Pinkamena just gave up and went home. However, staring at the bruise, Cheese couldn't help but feel that wasn't what happened. Some ponies looked up at him, narrowing their eyes.

"All right, what happened here?" Lemon asked.

"What happened?" a stallion shouted. "What happened?! That Pie mare turned down Cortland's proposal, that's what happened!"

Cheese's eyes scanned the crowd. "Did it involve creepy chanting?"

"We were only asking her to smile," a mare said. "Honestly, she needs to lighten up."

"It's kind of hard for her to do that when you keep bugging her about this. Honestly, folks, it's not going to happen. She doesn't like him, simple as that."

"How do we know you're not jealous?!" another mare snapped.

"I'm not jealous…" Cheese looked at Cortland's bruise again and winced. "I certainly don't envy that bruise there. Now, folks, where did Pinkamena go?"

"Like you should know!" Cortland shouted. "Ya want 'er all to yerself, huh?"

Cheese glared at him. "No, we've got to get back to the farm! Unless… did she go home?"

A blue stallion raised his hoof. "Question: where is this farm located?"

Cheese pointed down the street. "Just past the railroad and beyond those hills. She… did go that way, right?"

"Oh, dear… she went the other direction…"

"What? Why would she go that way?"

"Well, she was in some emotional turmoil."

Cheese's eyes widened at the sound of that. The sound of that unshakable mare having been shaken was a shock, and to imagine her with an expression other than her dull glare—and that sweet smile he saw in his dreams—was inconceivable. Somehow, that chanting must have been involved in breaking her.

The rumble of thunder sounded, signaling that the rain was soon to resume and that Cheese was now in a bad mood. Cheese's nostrils flared, his mane bristled, and he jumped into the street, shoving the other ponies aside and grabbing Cortland. "What did you do?!"

"Cheese!" Lemon exclaimed. "I know you're angry, but don't be threatening!"

Cortland pushed him off. "Calm down, ya varmint! I only proposed to her, and she smacked me!"

"A simple proposal would not send her running off!"

Lemon pulled the furious Cheese away and patted his chest. "Calm down, son. Don't waste your time fighting him; you should go find her." He looked to the crowd. "And the rest of you oughta go home! It's going to rain soon!"

The ponies grumbled as they dispersed, and Cortland gave one last sharp glare towards Cheese, which the latter suspected was a sign that he was blaming him for the botched proposal. He took a deep breath, and then stopped the blue pony for a moment. "Okay… where did you say she went?"

Once pointed in the right direction, he thanked the stranger, and then headed off that way, calling Pinkamena's name. He didn't care that the first raindrops were falling; he had to find her.